On Kindness + 

The children, Masha and Misha, are building a tent for their dolls in front of the house. + 

Misha + 

In an angry tone to Masha. No, not this. Bring that stick there. What a blockhead you are! + 

An Old Woman + 

Coming out of the house, crossing herself, and muttering. Jesus Christ reward her! What an angel! She has pity on everyone. + 

The Children cease to play, and look at the old woman. + 

Misha + 

Who is as good as all that? + 

Old Woman + 

Your mother. She has God in her soul. She pities us, the poor. She has given me a skirt⁠—and some tea, and money too. The Queen of Heaven save her! Not like that godless man. “Such a lot of you,” he says, “tramping about here.” And such savage dogs he has! + 

Misha + 

Who is that? + 

Old Woman + 

The man opposite. The wine merchant. A very unkind gentleman, I can tell you. But never mind. I am so thankful to the dear lady. She has given me presents, has relieved me, miserable creature that I am. How could we exist if it were not for such kind people? She weeps. + 

Masha + 

To Misha. How good she is! + 

Old Woman + 

When you are grown up, children, be as kind as she is to the poor. God will reward you. Exit. + 

Misha + 

How wretched she is! + 

Masha + 

I am so glad mother has given her something. + 

Misha + 

Why shouldn’t one give, if one has got plenty of everything oneself? We are not poor, and she is. + 

Masha + 

You remember, John the Baptist said: Whoever has two coats, let him give away one. + 

Misha + 

Oh, when I am grown up I will give away everything I have. + 

Masha + 

Not everything, I should think. + 

Misha + 

Why not? + 

Masha + 

But what would you have left for yourself? + 

Misha + 

I don’t care. We must always be kind. Then the whole world will be happy. + 

Misha stopped playing with his sister, went to the nursery, tore a page out of a copybook, wrote a line on it, and put it in his pocket. On that page was written: We Must Be Kind. + 